Sequential punching apparatus



1958 F. E. BONNER ET AL 2,818,881

SEQUENTIAL PUNCHING APPARATUS ONNER XAK t m a w N R 0 N h E E N R s 1 A T e M A O A a Y R E Filed May 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F I G 5 V// l/iI/I/l rd Id!!! I! Jan. 7, 1953 F. E. BONNER ETAL SEQUENTIAL PUNCHING APPARATUS Filed May 21. 1953 United States Patent SEQUENTIAL PUNCHING APPARATUS Frank E. Bonner, Hyman Brier, and Leo J. Novak, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to The Commonwealth Engmeering Company of Ohio, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 21, 1953, Serial No. 356,472

2 Claims. (Cl. 137-624) This invention relates to apparatus which is sequentially controllable and more particularly to a sequential punching apparatus.

This invention is related to copending application of Leo J. Novak, Serial No. 334,339, filed January 30, 1953, now Patent No. 2,708,519, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

It is within the contemplation of this invention to provide novel punching apparatus in which a series of punching operations may be performed sequentially the arrangement employing a small, low cost pumping unit for attainment of the required pressure.

.[t is a principal object of the invention to provide improved novel valve means for selectively directing the pressured fluid to a piston or pistons to be actuated.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a punching apparatus capable of high production speeds and in which the reactive forces on the apparatus framework are limited.

It is an important object of the invention to provide eflicient, low-cost apparatus having a progressive cutting action.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide improved novel valve means which permit of substantially fully automatic operation of machine apparatus.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the apparatus of invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view partially broken away of a portion of the valve structure of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 of another embodiment of a valve useful in connection with the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 5 schematically illustrates a further modification of the invention;

Figure 6 is a view taken on line 66 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in Figure 1 a reservoir 1 of oil 3 into which intake line 5 of pump 7 driven by motor 9 extends; the outlet 11 of pump 7 is connected to a valve 13 having a casing 15, and an inner rotatable member 17. Member 17 is drivable through shaft 19, gear box 21 and motor 23.

Casing of valve 13 is provided along the circumference thereof at 25, 27, 29 and 31 with aligned apertures, and conduits 33, 35, 37, 39 connect the casing apertures respectively to a battery of cylinders 41, 43, 45, 47 mounted on the frame 49 of a punching machine. The cylinders are respectively provided with pistons 51, 53, 55 and 57 to the lower of which the punches 59, 61. 63, 65 are secured. Springs 67, 69, 71 and 73 are provided to return the pistons to their upper positions upon completion of a punching operation upon a strip of materials as at in Figure 1.

2,8 18,881 Patented Jan. 7, 1958 Referring now to the structure of valve 13 and particularly Figures 1-3 the rotatable member 17 is provided with a spiral slot 18 in the periphery thereof, and this slot is defined by lands 75, 77 which terminate at the slot ends at 79 and 81; the lands together with the inner wall of the casing form an oil-tight combination and the slot is oil-fed through opening 83 of the casing and channel 85 of the member 17 (Figure l); for this purpose the channel and opening may simply form a continuous passage or if preferred a suitable coupling which provides for rotation of the member 17 with respect to the casing may be employed.

A third land 87 which may be as shown in Figure 2 or which may be like the lands 75, 77 for balance purposes, extends from member 17 and also contacts the inner wall of the casing 15; thus the member 17 rotates on these lands. During this rotation the slot 18 successively passes the aligned apertures in the casing 15, and accordingly oil may be flowed successively through each of the apertures to actuate the cylinders sequentially. For example, as shown in Figure 1 oil flowing to the slot 18 from pump 7 passes to conduit 39 through aperture 31 and actuates piston 51 of the cylinder 41 thereby causing punch 59 to descend and cut material 20. This action is rapid as spring 67 withdraws the punch 59 as the rotor 17 passes the opening 31.

After the punching operation the lluid is withdrawn back to the valve 13 under the action o1 the springs as at 67, and in the normal case by gravity action also. For this purpose the chambers 89 and 91 which receive the returning fluid are, in the course of the revolution of member 17, connected to a drain opening 93; oil exhausted through this opening may be returned to the reservoir. The lands 75 and 77 and the position of the drain opening 93 may be so chosen that the oil is continuously urged toward the opening and thus the rotor 17 serves as a return pump. A pump 14 in the return line 95 may be employed also to deliver the oil to the reservoir 1.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an arrangement for the driving of a rotatable valve member while providing also for control of the feeding of the material, as 20 in Figure l, in accordance with the valve movement.

Thus in Figure 5 motor 101 provided with a suitable brake 103 actuates 21 Geneva indexing mechanism 105. which in turn provides for incremental rotation of rotatable member 107 of valve 109; a limit switch 111 is actuable by the Geneva mechanism as described hereinafter. If desired gearing may be provided in the mechanism to limit the rotative speed of shaft 125; a 2:1 gear reduction is suitable in most instances.

Geneva indexing mechanism 105 (Figure 6) comprises the drive shaft 113 carrying a plate 115 an extension of which mounts roller pin 117. A boss 119 of plate 115 and in the form of a concentric surface having a cutout portion 121 rotates with the plate on shaft 113.

Indexer 123 is mounted on driven shaft 125 and is provided with a minimum of four radial slots 127, equally spaced and into which roller 117 of the driver may pass. A larger number of slots and concave surfaces may be used as the application warrants. Between slots the indexer is provided with four concave surfaces 129 one of which engages the concentric surface of member 119 in the idle period between incremental movements of the indexer. The indexer also carries a trip 131 which is engageable with a switch arm 133 of limit switch 111.

In operation rotation of drive shaft 113 by motor 101 causes plate 115 and roller 117 to rotate which motion causes movement of roller 117 in the slots 127 in succession, the cutout portion 121 of member 119 being provided to permit passage of the extending arms of the indexer 123. Once each revolution switch arm 133 will be tripped by trip 131 and since this is directly related to valve rotation and a complete cycle of operation of the punching apparatus, energization of limit switch 111 may be employed to feed material, as 20, to the press; a simple arrangement of this kind is the utilization of the actuation of switch 111 to control the starting of a motor which feeds the material-the time of feed should then correspond to a dwell period of the indexer; stop switches customarily employed in the art may then stop the material movement and re-set the limit switch 111.

The slot will be positioned initially with respect to the apertures of the casing and the particular form of slot, number and spacing of apertures will determine the positioning for proper indexing. Thus it will be noted that the valve 109 of Figure 5 is provided with four aligned apertures in the casing and that the slot will be indexed with the left and right hand apertures for a period of time and accordingly the pistons associated therewith will be actuated for a like period of time. However the slot will pass the intermediate apertures while the rotatable member 107 is moving and accordingly the periods of actuation and deactuation of the pistons associated therewith will be short as in the structure of Figure 1. Such arrangement leads to sequential operation and flexibility of the apparatus as well, for the pistons may be rendered operable or inoperable, for a short time or a long time, as desired simply by suitably arranging the apertures with respect to the index apparatus.

Referring particularly to the structure of Figure 4 wherein parts similar to that of Figure 2 are indicated by numerals raised by 200 a drain passage 299 may be provided in the body of the rotatable member 217; the member may also be interdrilled as at 297 to provide a connection between chamber 291 and 289. Such facilitates drainage of the fluid from the conduits of the apparatus; also, if desired, to further facilitate the operation each punching cylinder (Figure 1) may be equipped with a limit switch to actuate the indexing mechanism of Figure 4 only after completion of its own punching operat1on.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for fluid control comprising a casing having apertures in linear alignment, a rotatable member in the casing and having a channel communicable with the exterior of the casing for the passage of fiuid into the channel, lands on the periphery of the member extending longitudinally thereof engageable with the interior of the casing and defining a slot extending longitudinally of and partially around the member, said rotatable member and casing defining a chamber internally of the casing and separated from said slot by said lands, said casing having a drain opening outwardly thereof from the chamher through which fluid is pumped by contact with the rotatable member.

2. A valve having a casing with longitudinally spaced outlets therein and a rotatable member therein, said member having a pair of longitudinal spiral lands on the circumference thereof which lands engage the interior of the casing for rotation relative thereto, said lands dcfining therebetween a narrow slot extending along the length of and partially about the periphery of said member, said lands defining with the casing a chamber separated from said slot by said lands, the chamber having a drain opening communicable therewith for the exhaustion of fiuid from the valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 505,489 See Sept. 26, 1893 825,370 Zurbuch July 10, 1906 1,113,129 Marr Oct. 6, 1914 1,207,769 Kenney Dec. 12, 1916 1,763,154 Holzwarth June 30, 1930 2,112,153 Gorham Mar. 22, 1938 2,309,983 Riddle Feb. 2, 1943 2,327,046 Hunter Aug. 1.7, 1943 2,327,646 Hutchinson Aug. 24, 1943 2,345,073 Rosett Mar. 28, 1944 2,467,512 Weiby Apr. 19, 1949 2,501,685 Lev Mar. 28, 1950 

